US government issues warning for tourists in Northern Ireland

The United States bureau of consular affairs in Ireland has issued a warning to U.S. citizen's travelling in the North of Ireland following the spree of bombings over the last month.

Their statement reads "US citizens travelling to Northern Ireland should remain alert to their surroundings and should be aware that if they choose to visit potential flash points or attend parades, sporadic violence remains a possibility”.

They also warned travelers that demonstrations intended to be peaceful could turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence.

A spokesperson from the Northern Ireland Tourist Board said, “Over recent years we have seen a huge increase in the number of visitors to Northern Ireland, and our feedback shows that the vast majority of those visitors see Northern Ireland as a safe and secure destination”.

Similar warnings, over Northern Ireland, were issued by the Australian and New Zealand governments.

The Australian government advised tourists to avoid protests and demonstrations “as they may turn violent.” They added "Australians could inadvertently be caught up in violence directed at others”.

The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs suggested that their citizens avoid Northern Ireland during the period of April to August the marches and protests “have the potential to turn violent and we recommend you avoid them”.

Two bombs were defused in County Down on August 4 and 8. A car bomb exploded outside a police station in Derry City on August 3.